Former council leader Roger Stone steps down as a councillor in Rotherham

Roger Stone, the former leader of Rotherham Council who resigned in the wake of the Jay report into child sex exploitation in the town, has quit as a councillor.

Mr Stone, a Labour councillor for the Silverwood ward, had led the authority since 2003 but stepped down as leader on the day Prof Alexis’ Jay’s findings were published on August 26.

Her report found that 1,400 children were estimated to have been victims of abuse between 1997 and 2013. As Mr Stone has resigned within six months of the next election, his seat will remain vacant until a ballot is held on May 7 next year.

He had continued to be eligible for his basic allowance of £12,103 per year as a councillor, despite being suspended by the Labour Party pending an internal investigation.

Mr Stone was first elected in 1988 and was made an OBE in 2009 for services to local government.

Last year he announced the independent inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham, apologising unreservedly to young people who had been let down by safeguarding services.